Vancouver Island Travel Forum

Hello all, I'm trying to plan a trip for my mother and me. She's always wanted to see some whales in the flesh, and i wondering if July/August would be too late to see them as i heard the main migration period is in April. Any advice on the best place to go?
Thanking you in advance.

There are probably a few places, but I remember my sister-in-law going to a place called Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, approximately 3-4 hours drive from Victoria. You might try a google search for Tofino. I hope that is some help.

It depends on the kind of whales you're wanting to see. Vancouver Island has several species in its local waters. Grey whales are common on the west coast (around Tofino) during their annual migration, however, there are certainly orcas (killer whales) on the south coast of Vancouver Island around Victoria. July and August is prime season for orcas.

As noted previously it depends what you want to see. The Grays migrate north in April and May along the west coast of Vancouver Island . In July and August you may see stragglers out of Tofino . Humpbacks do the same from their starting point in Hawaii. Again in July and August you may see stragglers out of Tofino. South of Vancouver Island are the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Around the NE Coast of Vancouver Island are the Northern Resident Killer Whales. There is another group of Killer whales , the Transients, which are all over the place and unpredicatable. The last group of Orcas are the Offshore group which you will never see.

Hi my husband and I are spending a few days on VI kayaking with Orca whales, July/August is prime time for them. Take a look at www.kayakbritishcolumbia.com not necessaryily to kayak but it has some great photos on it. We cant wait

What a great place!! We went in August and got to see Grays, Humpbacks and from a float plain trip a small pod of Orcas. It was a trip we will never forget. Dont forget the bears!